Lord of the Rings RPG scrapped?

EA declines to comment on rumours that The White Council has been disbanded.

It's been reported today that the plug has been pulled on hotly anticipated RPG Lord of the Rings: The White Council.

The rumours will be a devastating blow to fans of Tolkien's epic trilogy and Peter Jackson's blockbuster movies who were looking forward to an Oblivion-style experience set in the rich world of Middle-earth.

In the game, players would have been able to choose their role as a man, elf, dwarf or hobbit and explore massive open environments, with the ultimate goal of becoming a hero allied to the White Council - where they would encounter series stalwarts Gandalf, Saruman, Galadriel and Elrond.